From: Pete Fyfe
[petefyfe_at_aol_dot_com]
Sent: 18 April 2012 04:08
Subject: Pete Fyfe: Nick Dow - My
Love
Attachments: Nick Dow - My Love.jpg
NICK DOW - My Love You've Won To
Keep (Old House Music OHM 705)
I was listening to a radio
programme a while ago when my ears pricked up on hearing the dulcet tones of
Nick Dow. Bearing in mind the last time I saw/heard Nick was over thirty years
ago on the London folk club circuit his voice has maintained the same
characteristic and gloriously rounded timbre that always made me think "?I
wonder whatever happened to him?" Well, whatever happened to him (enjoying his
life as a sign-writer and radio host I should imagine) is in the past and
thankfully he has now started recording ?folk music' again?and he does so with
aplomb. Worth purchasing a copy of the album alone for the inclusion of the
classic "The Bellringing" where the diction perfect unaccompanied performance
is pitch perfect he also proves pretty nifty on guitar on the opening track
"Fair Susan I Left". Judging from his sleeve notes the final track "Blue
Mountain" sounds as if it's become something of a ?most requested' song from
his ?live' repertoire and I can certainly see why. Having been written by Fred
Keller after the First World War, Nick's interpretation with it's lazy
?country' feel joined by Pete Dave Grimshaw (fiddle), Jim Wheeler (Bass) and Alex
Nearnley (banjo) is a ?hit' waiting in the wings. It helps if you know
something of the background of the song as there are a lot of names and places
that are worth checking up on to fill in the gaps and I suggest you follow the
link http://www.suu.edu/faculty/mulderink/servicelearning/vicki_tracy.htm
if you want to find out more?God Bless the web! Unfortunately Nick has no
website to my knowledge but you can order copies of the CD from http://www.livingtradition.co.uk/listeningpost
PETE FYFE